Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/197528 
Year of Publication: 
2019
Series/Report no.: 
HCHE Research Paper No. 17
Publisher: 
University of Hamburg, Hamburg Center for Health Economics (HCHE), Hamburg
Abstract: 
Although unemployment likely entails various externalities, research examining its spillover effects on spouses is scarce. This is the first paper to estimate effects of unemployment on the smoking behavior of both spouses. Using German Socio-Economic Panel data, we combine matching and difference-indifferences estimation, employing the post-double-selection method for control-variable selection via Lasso regressions. One spouse's unemployment increases both spouses' smoking probability and intensity. Smoking relapses and decreased smoking cessation drive the effects. Effects are stronger if the partner already smokes and if the male partner becomes unemployed. Of several mechanisms discussed, we identify smoking to cope with stress as relevant.
Subjects: 
smoking
risky health behaviors
unemployment
job loss
spillover effects
post-doubleselection method
JEL: 
I12
J63
J65
C23
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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